Greetings ta ever one in western Illinois and all readers of The Quill.

September is here now and with it a spell of warmer weather.I was able to adjust quite well to the cooler, low humidity, fall-like weather we had last week. Gett'n back ta this hot, high humidity stuff is a taken its toll on me. My body wants to hang anywhere close to where there is good shade with a cool breeze or inside a air conditioned building.

That be'n said but, this is the week of school fer the young'ns with no air condition'n thus one-half day school fer now. Wise decision by the school administrators.

This is also the week fer several outdoor activities. The farm progress show is a go'n on, the Old Threshers reunion is a go'n on at both Mount Pleasant, IA, Pontiac, IL and Argyle Lake. Fer those fellers that like those type of things they is will'n to brave any kind of weather.

It's really quite an extreme go'n from the latest innovations at the Farm Progress Show to the older innovations of the Old Thresher days. I reckon it's good to keep track of both - see'n where we's a go'n with the latest technology inventions, and ideas as well as have'n a look back as ta where we've come from.

Speak'n of that, fer those of youn's that made it to the Jones sale up at Smithshire last Thursday ya fer sure had yourself a real treat in watch'n old John Deere tractors and other older equipment sell. Some of that equipment was bought by intense bidding by fellers a long ways away. One feller was from North Dakota.

It was a good time to do some neighboring, meet new friends ad simply relax and reminiscence on slower days and ways of farm'n. Much like these thresher reunion days are

Speak'n of sales, it sure seems like our area of Hancock County is hav'n it's share of land sales. It's interest'n to see what prices are do'n. Some think they is off 25 % or more and yet others think not. It will depend, I suppose, on who and how hard two bidders or more want to lock horns in the process.

With Labor Day this come'n weekend ya knows fer sure after those events fellers will be a think'n seriously of harvest. I've heard a little further south of us has a few fields of corn harvested already. There are fellers around these parts think'n they'll try pick'n some corn within two weeks. That oughta stir the neighborhood up some and draw their shorts up tight.

Soybeans look a way's off fer now but that can change quickly also. This warmer weather is a gonna hurry things along a bit.

A friend and relative of mine from Florida sent a little humor by Steven Wright and his take on life. Steven Wright is a famous erudite scientist and humorist. He is quoted as hav'n said: " I woke up one morning, and all my stuff had been stolen and replaced by exact duplicates." His mind sees things differently than most of us do. Here is some of his gems. Thank Joanie fer share'n em fer this column's reader enjoyment:

1. I'd kill for a Nobel Peace Prize.

2. Borrow money from a pessimist -- they don't expect it back.

3. Half the people you know are below average.

4. 99% of lawyers give the rest a bad name.

5. 82.7% of all statistics are made up on the spot.

6. A conscience is what hurts when all your other parts feel so good.

7. A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.

8. If you want the rainbow, you got to put up with the rain.

9.All those who believe in psychokinesis, raise my hand.

10. The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

11. I almost had a psychic girlfriend, But she left me before we met.

12. OK, so what's the speed of dark?

13. How do you tell when you're out of invisible ink?

14. If everything seems to be going well, you have obviously overlooked something.

25. If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried.

26. A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking.

27. Experience is something that you don't get until just after you need it.

28. The hardness of the butter is proportional to the softness of the bread.

29. To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research.

30. The problem with the gene pool is that there is no lifeguard.

31. The sooner you fall behind, the more time you have to catch up.

32. The colder the x-ray table, the more of your body is required to be on it.

33. Everyone has a photographic memory; some just don't have film.

34. If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.

35. If you car could travel at the speed of light, would your headlights work?

There ya has it then - a different way of look'n at things than the way many folks do here in Western Illinois. It shore provides a feller food fer thought and somethi'n a person can dwell on fer a short spell.

Well, it's time ta sign off. I'm a hope'n ever one has a good week enjoy'n the events they choose to partake in.

Oh, and by the way, we is a haven fer great indulgence and satisfaction, our last batch of late planted sweet corn. Ummmm what a treat - fresh from the garden, on the ear with plenty of butter'n salt. Can't beat it!